Claude Porter

Lt. Claude Porter was a pilot in the 756 B S

It has been reported by one of his crew members, Sgt Edward Vansickle, that his plane was shot down over Albania. Porter and his 756 B crew were shot down on a raid to Ploesti where his ship received flak hits in no 1 engine & bomb bay after Bombs Away. Porter tried to reach Paritsan Yugoslavia but he and his crew had to bail out over Albania. Although rescued and aided by Paritsans the y were turned over to the Germans and all became POWs

Porter`s story is vividly told in his book " Cuckoo Over Vienna "

Claude Lorraine Porter

Died January 16, 2003

NICEVILLE, Fla.

Claude Lorraine Porter, 86, died in Niceville, Fla., on Jan. 16. He was a longtime resident of Leelanau County.

He was born on Dec. 12, 1916, on East 11th Street in Traverse City. His parents, Clark and Florence (Wyckoff) Porter preceded him in death.

Claude loved God's great and beautiful outdoors. He fished, hiked, canoed and loved golf. He was a 30-year member of the Traverse City Golf and Country Club. His woodworking was displayed in many fine pieces of furniture and clocks.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a B24 Bomber pilot with the 459th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, in Italy. Shot down on a raid to Ploesti, Romania, Claude became a POW of Germany and spent one year in a hospital in Vienna, Austria, which was bombed repeatedly by his own 15th Air Force. He retired a lieutenant colonel in 1976 with 23 years of federal service.

Claude also retired from the Pere Marquette and C&O railways in Grand Rapids. After his railroad retirement, he started his own business, Porter Saw and Tool Company, on Wellington Street in Traverse City.

He was an active participant and supporter of many organizations, including the American Legion Post #35, the 15th Air Force Association, the 459th Bomb Group Association, the Liberator Club of America, the Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #69 and the Elks BPOE #323. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #38.

Claude's lovely wife of 28 years, Eleanor Weaver Porter, was a registered nurse and graduate of the Butterworth School of Nursing in Grand Rapids. She preceded him in death in 1998.

He is survived by his sister, Beverly R. Windsor of Niceville, Fla.; a son, Jim (Polly) Weaver of Jackson, Wy.; and a daughter-in-law, Elaine McIntosh of Ann Arbor; three grandchildren, Matt and Rachel Weaver of Ann Arbor and Carrie Weaver of Jackson, Wy.; and special friend, Deb Tastad, a registered nurse who made his life beautiful the last few years.

Cremation has taken place with memorial services to be held on a date yet to be determined at Keswick United Methodist Church in Suttons Bay. His remains will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., in the spring.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Eleanor Weaver Porter Nursing Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3933, Jackson, WY 83001, or to the Leelanau Conservancy, 105 N. 1st St., Leland, MI 49684.

MACR: 7315

2nd Lt. Claude L Porter was assigned to the 459th BG 756th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot.

The following information on Claude Porter is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on 2nd Lt. Porter. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Claude Porter's military record please contact us.